Planet Self Storage in Hyde Park, MA has installed a 196.58 KW photovoltaic solar energy system on its one acre roof.  This system is approximately equivalent to the amount of solar that would serve fifty to sixty average homes. Comprised of 819 Conergy solar panels and two inverters by Solectria of Lawrence, MA, the system uses will offset all of the electricity for the building and most of the electricity for three of Planet’s other facilities in Boston: The “Whale Building” on Traveler’s Street next to the Southeast Expressway, the Southampton Street location next to Boston City Medical Center, and Planet Old Colony on D Street in South Boston. According to the project developer, Chris Straka of Ascendant Energy in Maine, “The model for this project is the best I’ve seen for commercial adoption of solar. One facility hosts solar generation for other company locations using Massachusetts’ unique neighborhood net metering rules that allocate production across NStar electric accounts. The resulting economies of scale yield meaningful cash flows, when combined with Massachusett’s best in the nation solar incentive program.  Financing for the project was provided by South Coastal Bank or Rockland MA and the Federal 1603 grant”. The solar system is projected to offset 150 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from utility electric generators per year, equivalent to approximately 40 acres of trees. This project is the second solar project completed by Planet Self Storage, the first being in Newington CT.]]>